Adjustable clothes prop



Oct. 15, 1929. H. G. KNOTH ADJUSTABLE CLOTHES PROP Filed 001;. 22, 1924 Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES HILARY G. KNOTH, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN ADJUSTABLE CLOTHES PROP Application filed October 22, 1924. Serial No. 745,070. 2

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a clothes prop which may be adjusted to various lengths, depending upon the nature of the clothes line with which used and the elevation of the clothes line desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an all metal clothes prop which may be adjustable and which will be simple and cheap in structure, durable, economical of manufacture and highly efficient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of clothes prop made from a pair of sections telescopically arranged and having a minimum of bearing surface between the telescoping parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a clothes prop of this class of a simple and easily operated means for adjusting the relatively moveable parts and for clamping the same in fixed relation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clothes prop formed from three main sections, one section being positioned within the other two which engage at their ends and are welded at the engaging butts.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood from a reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention, with part broken away,

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view with part broken away, and,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view.

In the preferred form', as shown in the drawings, the clothes prop comprises a tub ular member 7, having an outwardly extending circumferential bead 8 formed adjacent its lower end. A line engaging member having the bifurcations 9 and 9 is provided for engaging the clothes line. This engaging member is preferably made from a malleable casting, although the particular material and method of constructing the same is optional.

An extension 11 is'adapted for engaging in the end of the tube 7, this engagement being a press fit. A hexogonal shoulder 10 is provided which engages the edge of the tube and serves to limit the thrust into the tube 7. This hexagonal shoulder 10 also serves as a means for holding the casting when the same is being machined or trimmed after casting. The extension 11 is provided with a pocket 12 which lightens the material.

The tube into which the tube 7 is projected is made from a pair of parts. When the parts making up the clothes prop are properly assembled, the ends of the parts 14 and 14 are welded at their butts, thus forming one I continuous tube. The bead 8 on the tube 7 engages against the inner surface of the tube 14, and, as shown in the drawings, the upper portion of the part 14 is constricted, by reducing its diameter, so as to engage for some distance the periphery of the tube 7. The length of the restricted portion of the tube portion 14 is optional, merely a suflicient length being had to prevent any lateral relative swaying of the tubes.

An opening 15 is formed in the upper portion of the tube portion 14. This opening, when formed comprises a notch in the upper edge of the portion 14, but when the portion 14 is welded thereon, the notch becomes a closed one to provide the opening.

Mounted in the lower end'of the tube 14 is a foot 17 having an hexagonal shoulder 18 which engages the lower edge of the tube portion 14 and prevents the thrust of the extension of the foot into thetube portion from being too great. This extension is thrust into the tube portion 14 in a press fit, but to prevent, further, the undue removal of this foot from the tube, the tube is driven into recesses formed in the foot extension, as at 20.

Positioned within the tube 14, so as to embrace the tube 7, is a split sleeve 21, having the ends 22 and 28 angularly turned and projected through the opening 15, so as to provide a clamp whereby the tube 7 may be fixed relatively to the tube 14 by drawing the ends 22 and 28 toward each other. To provide this means of drawing the ends together, a threaded stem 24 is projected through an ibo opening in the end 22 and threaded into an opening in the end 23. A hand grip 25 is provided by the laterally extending wings, so as to efiect a turning of the stem 24. A head 26 is formed on the stem 24- to engage one face of the end 28, the stem, head and wings being formed preferably integral.

The sleeve 14: is indented as at 27 and 27, for preventing a sliding of the sleeve 21 relatively to the tube 14:. These indentations may be dispensed with, if desired, inasmuch as the ends 22 and 23 projecting through the opening 15 will serve to retain the split sleeve in fixed position relatively to the tube 14. p

In operation the tube 7 may be, after the loosening of the sleeve from clamping engagement therewith, moved relatively to the tube 14 until the desired length is reached. The sleeve 21 is then brought into clamping engagement with the tube 7 by a suiiicient threading of the stem 24: into the end 23.

When the tubes are in their folded or inwardly telescoped position, it will be noted that the bead 8 engages against the edges of the extension of the foot 17. As shown in Fig. 2, the foot 17 is formed pointed, as at 20, to provide a suitable end for engaging the ground or surface upon which it is placed, so as to prevent slipping. The foot 20 is provided with an hexagonal shoulder 18, which engages against the edges of the tube 1 It is also to be noted that the foot 17 is formed hollow as at 19.

It is thus seen that I have provided a clothes prop which may be adjusted to various lengths, this adjustment being a true one inasmuch as the length of the prop may be adjusted to a very small fraction of an inch. The method of retaining the tube in fixed relation is a simple and effective one, which may be easily released so as to permit the slidable relative movement of the tubes.

Vfhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent:

1. An adjustable clothes prop, comprising a tubular member, having an opening formed therein adjacent one end thereof; a supporting member slidably mounted in said tubular member; a sleeve for embracin said supporting member mounted in said tubular member, said sleeve being split and having the adjacent ends thereof angularly turned and projecting through said opening in said tubular member; and threaded means for cooperating with said angularly turned ends for effecting a clamping of said supporting member by said sleeve.

2. An adjustable clothes prop, comprising a tubular member having an opening formed in the side thereof; a supporting member slidably positioned in said tubular member, said tubular member being constricted in diameter adjacent one'end for embracing said supporting member, said supporting member being free from contact with said tubular member throughout the major portion of its length upon being fully thrust into said tubular member; a peripheral bead formed on said supporting member adjacent its lower end for engaging the inner surface of said tubular member; a split sleeve mounted in said tubular member and in embracing re lation with said supporting member, the ends of said sleeve being angularly turned and projected through said opening, said ends bein normally spaced apart for permitting free sliding movement of said supporting member relatively to said tubular member;

fore 'oing.

HILARY o. KNOTH. 

